Public Safety: We Deserve To Be “Free From Fear And Need
Rukia is committed to the ongoing development of a District that is “free from fear and need”. This means working with residents, community groups/organizations, advocates, non-profits, businesses small and large, law enforcement, the courts, other City agencies, and philanthropy to ensure that each part of our public safety system works effectively together so that every resident of District 72 is safe and treated fairly.
Solutions that work. Bringing more than a decade of work on criminal justice issues, Rukia is considered a national expert in the field of community-centered public safety solutions. She has worked to develop effective alternatives to incarceration programs in New York, South Carolina, and Mississippi. In Mississippi she co-led the development of Mississippi’s only gun violence de-escalation program – Operation Good Cure Violence – and the state’s first and only credible messenger mentoring program – Strong Arms of MS. Both programs are trusted by the communities they serve and have a proven record of contributing to a decrease in violence and reduced youth recidivism rates in the communities in which they operate. Operation Good had more than 200 days of no gun violence in their zone and Strong Arms had a 6 percent recidivism rate for court involved youth they mentored.
Rukia believes that those closest to the problem are closest to the solutions. That is why she has met with residents across the Jackson Metro Area to hear their safety concerns and to learn from those harmed. Rukia’s public safety platform is informed by her extensive experience and guided by insights and solutions from people most impacted by violence and crime.
Education: Our Children Deserve a Fully Funded Education System
Rukia is committed to fighting for public education and the expansion of education opportunities. Rukia grew up in District 72 where she attended North Jackson Elementary, Bailey Magnet Middle School, Murrah High School and Tougaloo College where she was proud to serve as Miss Tougaloo College. Rukia is a firm believer in education as a human right. When fully funded, public education can provide quality education to all our children. She formed the New York Chapter of Dignity In Schools for the equitable treatment of Black, Brown and under-resourced students and was a loud voice in joining Our JPS in taking action to prevent a State Takeover of Jackson Public Schools. Rukia’s public education platform reflects her commitment to full and equitable funding for all public schools as a priority in our state budget.
Healthcare: We Deserve A Healthcare System That Prioritizes Our Needs
Rukia continues to work on issues to improve access to quality care for District 72 residents. She is a staunch advocate for our well-being, working to advance Reproductive Health, Medicaid Expansion, and a Health Care System in the state that is comprehensive and affordable. Rukia’s health platform is centered around her belief that every resident has a right to the care they need. Our communities deserve to do more than survive. We deserve to thrive.
Economic Development/Infrastructure: We Deserve Investments That Provide For A Better Quality Of Life
Rukia understands that when you elect a representative, you are electing an advocate to fight for the things that matter to you. Food on the table. Good paying jobs. Safe neighborhoods. As a long-time organizer, Rukia knows what it takes to organize and build power in our communities. She has been bringing people together for more than a decade to win material benefits like jobs and housing to ensure that our communities can live better and in peace, see our lives go forward, and guarantee the future of our children to have a better quality of life. Rukia has done this work through the development of several programs including the Community Love Fund, which provides social support and mutual aid to community members in need of financial assistance. She has also created a Dignity Economy Fellowship to increase the employability and rehabilitation of young people that have experienced incarceration. She has visited and studied cooperative economies across the nation and worldwide to learn about ways Mississippians can collectively increase our personal, family and collective wealth. Rukia’s economic development platform reflects her commitment to collective solutions that centers residents who are often left out, or worse, harmed by state policies anchored in the status quo.
Infrastructure: We Deserve Reliable and Modern Infrastructure.
Rukia is dedicated to working with federal, state, and municipal government, as well as residents to support the development of infrastructure that is reliable and modern. Every resident has a right to clean water, affordable water bills, smooth roads, flood prevention, and proper sewage maintenance. When infrastructure has failed, as we have experienced with the ongoing water crisis, Rukia worked with community members, municipal government, and community based organizations to launch the MS Rapid Response Coalition, (MRRC). Since forming in response to the Covid19 pandemic and winter storms, MRRC has provided immediate and rapid response relief to residents impacted by infrastructure failures and climate change. Together, Rukia and MRRC’s 30 partner organizations have provided support to over 100,000 directly impacted Mississippi families. During the Jackson Water Crisis, the Mississippi Rapid Response Coalition, under Rukia’s leadership, has provided water to over 60,000 families and provided Water Filters and Water Tests to over 200 families. Rukia has pushed for full funding for rebuilding Jackson’s water system and funding for cities across Mississippi that are experiencing similar infrastructure issues. Rukia has demonstrated strong, accountable leadership in confronting the infrastructure crisis. Through rapid response and effective collaboration, Rukia showed us that she is the kind of leader that Mississippi residents can count on. She listens to residents and is dedicated to fighting for us even when times are tough. Rukia’s Infrastructure platform comes out of her direct experience leading – and listening – on the frontlines.
Voting Rights/Good Government: You Deserve To Have A Say.
We know that there are renewed and even more aggressive voter suppression efforts all over the country and here in our home state targeting Black voters, other voters of color, and people who were formerly incarcerated. The silencing of our voice and denial of our political power extends far beyond voting to the systemic barriers we face in education, housing, neighborhood investment, the criminal justice system, and more. That is why we need leaders who are willing to open the doors of governance to our people, not just settle for making decisions behind closed doors of power. Rukia believes that the ultimate goal of “Good Government” should be opportunities for the full participation of residents without barriers. Residents should have protected voting rights as well as the ability to engage in co-governance with their elected leaders. Co-governance, or deciding and governing together, requires more than our electeds representing us. It requires elected leaders who make room for their constituents’ voices by creating vehicles for transparency and real resident engagement.
This way of doing politics is essential for reinvigorating democracy, especially now when trust in government and our elected leaders’ ability to solve the most critical problems is at an all time low. As a founding Board Member of Black Voters Matter, Rukia understands the importance of making it easy for community members to fully engage in the governing process. As State Representative she will work to increase residents’ access to information, access to government and voice in the decision-making process. For five years she has worked to build a solid infrastructure for resident co-governance through her leadership in the Jackson People’s Assembly. She plans to use the assembly model to present proposed legislation to residents, discuss the pros and cons and receive input on how she should vote. Rukia’s platform on good government is another element of her unique brand of leadership. She is committed to bringing politics back to the people, where it should be.
